The End of the Wicked Contrasted with That of the Righteous.

A Psalm of Asaph.

1God certainly is good to Israel,

To those who are pure in heart!

2But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling,

My steps [a]had almost slipped.

3For I was envious of the [b]arrogant

As I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4For there are no pains in their death,

And their belly is fat.

5They are not [c]in trouble like other people,

Nor are they tormented together with the rest of mankind.

6Therefore arrogance is their necklace;

The garment of violence covers them.

7Their eye [d]bulges from fatness;

The imaginations of their heart overflow.

8They mock and [e]wickedly speak of oppression;

They speak from on high.

9They have set their mouth [f]against the heavens,

And their tongue [g]parades through the earth.

10Therefore [h]his people return here,

And abundant waters are drunk by them.

11They say, “How does God know?

And is there knowledge [i]with the Most High?”

12Behold, these are the wicked;

And always at ease, they have increased in wealth.

13Surely in vain I have [j]kept my heart pure

And washed my hands in innocence;

14For I have been stricken all day long,

And [k]punished every morning.

15If I had said, “I will speak this way,”

Behold, I would have betrayed the generation of Your children.

16When I thought of understanding this,

It was [l]troublesome in my sight

17Until I entered the [m]sanctuary of God;

Then I perceived their end.

18You indeed put them on slippery ground;

You dropped them into [n]ruin.

19How they are [o]destroyed in a moment!

They are utterly swept away by sudden terrors!

20Like a dream when one awakes,

Lord, when stirred, You will despise their image.

21When my heart was embittered

And I was pierced [p]within,

22Then I was stupid and ignorant;

I was like an animal [q]before You.

23Nevertheless I am continually with You;

You have taken hold of my right hand.

24You will guide me with Your plan,

And afterward receive me [r]to glory.

25Whom do I have in heaven but You?

And with You, I desire nothing on earth.

26My flesh and my heart may fail,

But God is the [s]strength of my heart and my portion forever.

27For, behold, those who are far from You will perish;

You have destroyed all those who [t]are unfaithful to You.

28But as for me, the nearness of God is good for me;

I have made the Lord [u]GOD my refuge,

So that I may tell of all Your works.